Vehicle lock and signaling device



Sept. 11, 1928. 7 1,683,913

A. E. PAIGE VEHICLE LOCK AND SIGNALING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 26, 1924 FIG].

Flam .95

wwvro/a Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR E. PAIGE, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE LOCK AND SIGNALING DEVICE.

Original application filed. January 26, 1924, Serial No. 688,819. Divided and this application filed December 29, 1924.

This is a livision of my application Serial No. 688,819; which latter includes claims for the locking mechanism herein disclosed.

My invention is particularly applicableto steering mechanism for self-propelled vehicles, such as automobiles, motor boat s, airplanes, etc, including a steering shalt provided with a rotary steering wheel mounted to turn in a tubular column or post, and provides locking means for detachably rigidly connecting the steering shaft with the steering column, soas to prevent the vehicle from being steered when locked, and means whereby an electric circuit, for instance, a signaling systei'n in the vehicle, is arranged to be controlled by a switch appliance upon the steer-- inn shaft in cooperative relation with a. terminal or teri'ninals held stationary by said column. I 1

Although the locking mechanism which I lia ve chosen for illustration includes lock body. of a pin key type, which is mounted to reciprocate radially m a casing formed in a screw capwhich serves as a cover of the internal gear case which is a stationary fixture at. the top of the steering column of the Ford type, and thus resembles the structure shown in Letters Patent of the Umted States 1.425308 granted to James A. Murphev August 8, 1922; in that patented structure the steering shaft is provided with a prin'iarily separate. sleeve having recesses to engage the lock body, and it is necessary to employ the key botlrto set the lock body in engagen'ient with. said sleeve, and to effect its withdrawal from such engagement. the contrary, in the form of my IIIVEBIIUOII herein shown, the steering shaft is provided with means in unitary relation therewith arranged to directly engage the lock body, without the interposition ofany sleeve, and the lock body may be engaged with the steering shaft. to render the steering mechanism 111- opcr tive, without the employment of the key; the latter being required only to release and effect the withdrawal of the lock body from its locked position. Therefore, my improvement in that respect is advantageous, first, in that itis less costly to construct and, second, that it is more convenient to operate.

Moreover, in electric signaling systems of theprior art,a push button is carried by the steering wheel and connected with the other parts of the system byflexible wires secured Serial. No. 758,712.

at one end upon the steering wheel and at the 1 i I otner'end upon some stationary part of the "vehicle, necessitating the provision of a considerable extent of such wires, so disposed that they may be coiled or un'coiled, or otherwise flexed, with every movement of the steering wheel throughout the complete rotation of the latter in either direction with reference to the stationaryv steering column. Such wires are not only unsightly and inconvenient in that they extend in such position that they must be continually avoided by the operator, but the repeated flexure to which they are subjected tends to loosen their terminal connections and thus render the circuit inoperative, whereas, it is, of course, highly dc sirable to maintain it tive. I

Therefore, a purpose and effect of my present invention are to provide a construction and arrangement avoiding the necessity for en'lployi'nent of any such flexible conductors between the rotary steering wheel and the stationary steering column, and to provide means to otherwise effect the desired electrical connections. In the form of my invention "hereinafter described, all of the parts of the electrical system which are movable by the wheel are in fact carried by the steering shaft independently of the wheel, and include. a push button terminal at the upper end of said shaft, in coaxial relation therewith, connected by a wire with an annular contact band encircling said shaft but insulated therefrom; said wire being extended between said terminal and said band in a radially extending slot in said shaft, which slot also serves as a seat for the spline key whereby said shaft is connected with the steering wheel.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a vertical seccontinuously operationa-l view showing a two-wire circuit including the push button switch.

Fig. II is a side elevation of the steering shaft and its appurtenances shown in Fig.

Fig. III is an elevation of one of the spring switch terminals shown in Figs. I and II. V Fig. IV is a plan view of the'metal ring which tightly fits the steering shaft beneath the steering wheel in Fig. I, .and the insulating rings which have the same diameters.

Figs. Vand VI are respectively axially opposite plan views of one of the electric con tact bands shown encircling said shaft in Fig. I.

Fig. VII is a plan view of the insulating ring which extends between said bands in Fig. I. p

Fig. VIII is a plan view of the spl1t 1nsulating bushing which holds the spring switch terminals shown in Fig. I.

Fig. IX is an inside face view of one of the halves of said bushing shown in Fig. VIII. I

In said figures; I have shown a form of my invention adapted for embodiment in an ad'toniobile having steering mechanism of the Ford type, i. 0., including a train of planetary gearing. The stationary steering column 1 is provided with the external screw thread 2 adapted to be engaged by the stationarycolumn head cover or cap 3. Said cap has two screw sockets 4 extending radial ly near the-upper end thereof to hold the electrical contact devices shown in Fig. I. Said cap has the 'key socket 5 adapted to receive a cylindrical key 6 which is. driven downward therein'acro said screw thread 2, to normallv prevent said cap from being unscrewed from said column, but which may be driven upward and out as hereinafter described. The steering shaft 7 is mounted to rotate in said column 1 and is operatively connected, by the key 8, with the steering wheel hub 9 which is detachably secured on said shaft. by the nut 10 engaging the screw thread 11 at the upper end of said shaft. As shown in Fig. I; said key extends in the radial slot 12 in said shaft 7. Said steering wheel conveniently includes the spider 14 extending from said hub 9, and either ri idly or pivotally connected to an annular steering wheel rim; the arm extending to the right fromsaid'h'ub in Fig. I, but broken 01%, being provided at its outer end with a pivotal connection for a tiltable form of steering wheel, shown in Fig. I.

Said steering shaft 7, known to the trade as the drive pinion shaft has, in unitary relation therewith, the pinion teeth 15 formingthe sun gear of the planetary train. Said shaft 7 is j ournaled at its lower end in the drivepinion shaft bushing 16 which is rotatable in saidcolu'mn 1 and is held downward therein by the flange ring 17, which is drive fitted around said shaft and extends inn con'ipleiner'i'tary recess 18 in said. cap 3, as

shown in Fig. I. Said bushing 16 has, at its upper end, three arms 19 carrying respective stud shafts 20, parallel with said shaft 7. Thr e planetary pinions 21 are mounted to turn "upon said stud shafts in mesh with said pinion teeth 15 and in mesh with the internal orbital gear 23, which latter is formed in unitary relation with said column 1.

Said internal gear case cover or'cap 3 has the axial bore 2 1 concentric with the axis of said shaft 7 and fitted to the circun'iference of saidpinion teeth; so that said shaft is thus journaled in said cover 3.

'Said internal gear case cover 3 also has, in

unitary relation therewith, the lock casing 25 with the 'adial. cylindrical lock socket 26 with which the teeth of said pinion 15 are adapted to successively register in every rotary position of said shaft 7. The primarilyseparate lock 28 includes a cylindrical body fitted to reciprocate in said locksocket 26-; the extent of its reciprocation being limited by the slot 29 in its top, in whicht-he screw 30 extends in rigid relation. with said lock 'asing 25 and in axial alinemen-t with said key seat 5 so that, when said screw 30 is removed, and said lock body withdrawn from its socket, said key 6' may be driven downward. into the position shown in Fig. I or may be driven upward and outward from that position.

As shown in Figs. I and II; the inner end of said lock body 28 is transversely corru-' gated by grooves fori'ning ridges 32 fitted to tric to but parallel With its axis, for the rotary key barrel 34-; which barrel is rotatable by the removable key 35, to retract the detent or locking plunger 36 shown in Fig. I. Said body has a transverse, diametrical, bore for said plunger, intersecting the axes of said body and barrel. Said plunger has the transverse, segmental, crank notch 38 therein which is adapted to receive the crank 39 projecting from the inner end of said rotary key barrel 34. v

Said plunger has a cylindrical spring seat, eccentric to the plunger axis so as to clear its slot and hold a spring 40 tending to project the plunger 36 which is thus adapted for al ternate engagement in the detent recesses 42 and 43in said cap 3, to detain said lock body 28 in either its inner locked position shown or in its outer unlocked position.

lVhen said key is turned to retract the detent plunger 36"t'rom the detent recess 42, and the lock, body 28 is withdrawn to the limit of its slot 29, said plunger 36 registers with said recess a3 and is automatically thrust therein, by said spring 40, to hold said lock body 28 out of engagement with said steering shaft 7 and thus permit the vehicle to be steered. Although in such unlocked position, said detent plunger 36 is spring pressed into said detent recess 43, enough to prevent the accidental in ard movement of said body 28 2 to locked position; said body may be thrust inward, by the finger. or thumb of the oper' ator, without using said key 35 such moveinent of the lock body merely causing the cam ended plunger 36 to ride over the inner edge of the recess d3 and be thus thrust into said body 28, against the-pressure ot' sad spring 40, until said plunger registers with the detent recess 42 into which it is automatically thrust'by said spring to the position shown in Fig. II, to detain said lock body 28 in the locked position above described and shown in Fig. I. f

Said key may be withdrawn from said lock whenever the plunger 86 is projected, but cannot be withdrawn from the .lock when said plunger is retracted into the lock body and, consequently, said key 35 serves as a handle by which said'lock body 28 may be reeiprocated.

Of course, when said screw 30 is withdrawn from said slot 29,'said lock body 28 may be withdrawn from its casing in said cover 8, being thus separable from said cover. However, in the ordinary use or this form o't' my invention, said screw 80 remains in the position shown in Fig. I, and said lock is continuously carried in said cover 3 which, as above described, is stationary in the automobile; its rotation and removal from the column 1 being normally prevented by the key 6 ailorcsaid. In order to prevent accidental dislodgment 01 said screw from the position shown in the-drawings; I prefer to provide a transverse slot 1n the upper surface of said lock casing 25 with which the slot in. said screw 30 is adapted toregister as shown in Fig I, and to slightly project the metal of said screw: 30, at 46, into engagement with said casing 25 in said slot do by striking the top of said screw with a center punch. However, such projection of the metal of the sore w is only suflicient to preventits accidental dislodgment and not suiiicient toprevcut its forcible operation by a screw driver.

As shown in Figs. I and II; said shaft 7 is encircled by two electric contact bands 82 which are L-shaped in cross section, precisely a like, but disposed inaxially opposite spaced relation in which they are held by the in sulating ring '83 shown in section in Fig. I and in plan in Fig. VII. Said two bands 82 are also insulated by the two rings 84 shown in section in Fig. I and in plan in Fig. IV. Said rings 84 are conveniently plane washers of vulcanized fibre, ot the same diameter as the ring 64: which is drive fitted on the shaft 7 so as to form an abutment thereon beneath said hub 9 and to rigidly secure said insulating elements and said contact bands on said shaft 7.

As indicated in Figs. I, V and VI; each of said contact bands 82 has a perforation 86 adjoining a bight 87 displaced axially from the plane of its transverse flange, to receive and engage thelower end otits respective conducting wire 88 or 89. As shown in Fig. I; said wires 88 and 89 have covers insulating them from said shaft 7, and their lower ends re respectively hooked and clinched in en- {l'agcment with the bights of said contact bands 82; such connectionbeing alike in both.

alike but are bent ditlerently in assembling 7 them so that one overlaps the other, as shown p in lug. I. lhe upper end ot one ot said spring terminals 93 bears against the under side of the push-button to normally uphold the latter and break the circuit between said termmals 93. However, the circuit may be closed by depressin said button to press the j upper ends of said terminals 93 in contact' with each other. Said terminals 93 aresupported in insulated relation with said shaft 7. in the split. insulating bushing 95, which is tightly titted in the cylindrical seat '54: in the top of said shaft. One-halt of said bushing 95 is shown in Figs. I and IX and both halves are assembled in Figs. II and VIII. Aslocst shown in Fig. VIII; said bushing 95 has two sockets as for said spring switch terminals termed by oppositely counterpart res cesses in the diametricall opposite halves of said bushing which are precisely alike.

lVhen in assembled position, as shown in Fig. 1, said bands 82 are respectively in'elcctrical connecti on with the contacts 73 which are indicated in Fig. II and which are respective cylindrical spring pressed plunger-s arranged to reciprocate. in the insulating bushings 67 which are screwed into the cap 3 and provided with respective wire conductors 66 and 81 thus continuously maintained in electrical connection with said conductors 88 and 89 respectively. I It is to be understood that theswitch mechanism above described may be directly included in any electric circuit, by means of said double wire connections (36' and 81. For instance, such circuit may include an electric llt.

generator and an audible or visible signal- 7 ing device or other translating device thus arranged to be energized by pressure upon said button 50.

Of course, in what is termed a single wire circuit, which is ordinarily used in some types of automobiles, one of the switch terminals 93 may be grounded uponthe adjacent automobile structure and the other terminal 93 provided. with its c nnections a ve described;

'not limited to such an embodiment.

thus permitting the omission of one of the bands 82 and the contact 7 3 which cooperates therewith; so that the connections for one side of such single wire circuit are made through the mechanical parts of the automobile structure.

Moreover, although I have found it convenient to illustrate my invention in connecdeparting from the essential features of my invention,

I claim: 1. A vehicle steering wheel shaft for steer- 1ng mechan1sm of the planetary gear type; having a screw thread at. one end, sun gear as defined in the appended claims.

teeth, terminating adjacent the other end and extending toward said screw thread; and having a spline key slot extending radially to the axis of said shaft and from the screw threaded end thereof and terminating between two of said gear teeth; constructed and arranged to form a seat for an electric con-- ductor, held in position by said spline key;

an electric conductor extending in said slot;

and a spline key in said slot securing said conductor in position.

2. A vehicle steering wheel shaft having a screw thread at one end, gear teeth terminating adjacent the other end and extending to' ward said screw thread; and having a spline key slot extending radially to the axis of said shaft and from the screw threaded end thereof toward said gear teeth; said slot of such depth as to form a seat for an electric conductor; an electric conductor extending in said slot; and means in said slot securing said conductor in position. 1

3. In a vehicle steering wheel shaft for steering mechanism of the planetary gear type; having two annular electric contact bands and means rigidly supporting said bands in insulated relation with said shaft; connectors respectively extending from said bands to the upper end of said shaft, through the latter; switch contacts respectively attached to the upper ends of said connectors; and insulating means holding said contacts in said shaft,

4. In a vehicle steering wheel shaft for steering mechanism of the planetary gear type; having two annular electric contact bands and means rigidly supporting, said bands in insulated relation with said shaft; connectors respectively extending from said bands to the upper end of said shaft, through the latter; switch contacts respectively attached to the upper ends of said connectors; and insulating means holding said contacts in said shaft, including a split bushing of; insulating material having complementary receses for said contacts and arranged to be tightly fitted in a seat in the end of said shaft.

5. A vehicle steering wheel shaft having an annular band in concentric relation therewith; means rigidly supporting said band in insulated relation with said shaft; and a switch connector, electrically connected at one end to said band and extending through said shaft to the upperend thereof.

6. A structure as in claim 5; having a. screw thread at the upper end of the shaft; a nut ARTHUR E, PAIGE. V 

